Program Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard for Affordable Housing
Category Financial Incentive
Implementing sector State
Last Update
State Washington
Administrator Washington Department of Commerce
Website http://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/housing/housing-trust-fund/h…
Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Photovoltaics
Sectors Residential

The Washington State Department of Commerce created the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard (ESDS), a set of green building criteria that is required for any affordable housing project applying for state funds through the Washington State Housing Trust Fund (HTF) beginning in July 2008. The standard is based on a point system which awards points for a variety of sustainable building practices including:

  • Site location and neighborhood planning;
  • Water conservation;
  • Energy efficiency and the incorporation of renewable energy technologies; and
  • Environmentally-conscious construction practices, building materials and improved indoor-air quality.

The standards were updated in 2018 to ESDS Version 4.0. A complete list of the newest standards can be found here.

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